Based on the National Jewish Book Awards' 2024 Jewish Book of the Year, “10/7: 100 Human Stories” by journalist Lee Yaron, the “10/7: Human Stories” exhibit was developed by Hillel international to preserve the humanity of those who suffered and to honor the memory of those killed during the terror attacks on October 7, 2023. It is displayed as a series of ten visual panels, each over 7 feet tall, and sharing the story of an individual or family impacted by the attacks. It highlights lives lost and stories of resilience and heroism, with the goal of fostering education, reflection, and dialogue.

Displayed at nearly two dozen Hillels across the United States and Canada, the exhibit has appeared everywhere from campus quads to sukkahs, gymnasiums, and classrooms, serving as both a space for remembrance and a catalyst for conversation.

I collaborated with exhibit writer Josh Feinberg, who distilled the book into ten compelling narratives, while I developed the visual framework to support these stories. The design concept paired imagery of each subject’s origins at the bottom of the panel with imagery at the top reflecting what happened to them October 7. The reverse side featured photographs of the aftermath alongside direct quotes from the book. The magic in making this work was in finding images that represented the reality of what happened without being gruesome.

I used a minimal, light sans-serif typeface to tell the stories and framed the victims’ photographs with black boxes—a subtle nod to the global “Bring Them Home” signs around the world. I also worked with the client to determine appropriate sizing and materials for the panels and advised on the logistics of printing and shipping to so many venues.